Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Memoirs from Kings Plaza Part One:

This is a new series I am creating on stories from my youth. I used love to hang out on Saturday afternoon at the Kings Plaza Mall. That was back when they sold books, CDs, and DVDs. Which was truly a long time ago. Not sure how often this subject matter will be updated but there are many stories to write. Today's stories will include: The Rooftop and Jamie. Feel free to let me know what you think.

The Rooftop: In the Pre-Sears days of Kings Plaza my friends and I had a secret place away from the rest of the world. It was the roof of Kings Plaza which was a desolate and cold area with no personality. No people, no cars, no intruding thoughts. The only concern was only if security would find us. Not sure how Joey and I came about finding the location. When you go to the mall each week and are not in a hurry to get home you try and find new adventures. Joey was a little dirty and always unshaven. He was the type of friend that if you met at any other stage in life besides pre-teen you would avoid. He was an agreeable guy that shared a passion for B-Movies. (So I thought. When we ended our friendship he claimed to hate watching them and only did because there was nothing else to do.)

The following week we had decided to share our discovery with the rest of the misfits that made up our group. Greg Cozzo was a self imposed hermit, with dirty skin that had green spots, and greasy hair. He was quiet. Sal Buzzetta was a bruiting ape of a man that loved to bully Greg. Sal would bully Greg everywhere we went. In school he made Greg curtsy to him. He also put a lock on Greg's schoolbag once and made him pay ten bucks to have it removed. The worst thing Sal probably did to Greg was pee on a carpet sample and slip it in Greg's PB and J sandwich in the cafeteria. Maybe some of this lead to the fact Greg has not left his house since 1998. Richard J. Lopez was also there and he was the coward of the group. After a couple of weeks when we finally got caught on the roof, Richie said, "Don't worry guys. I will handle this". Then he ran up to the guard and said, "I didn't want to do it but they made me".

But to backtrack to that first time as a group that we were on that roof was amazing. The five of us escaped to a world that we owned for once. No rules, no parents and no bullies. (Except Sal.) We were right next to the giant lettering. We all needed to look over the edge to realize where we were. We ran around like The Beatles in A Hard Day's Night and discussed everything from girls, movies and our home life. Greg considered jumping and Sal helped him weigh in the reasons he should. Then Joey and Sal threw some rocks at a boat that was below. The Captain got out of it and yelled up to them, "Stay right there, I'm gonna come up there and beat the shit out of you". It was time to leave. I wish I was up on that roof with those guys again.

Jamie: Jamie was my first lesson that what should happen in life isn't always what will happen. And that expecting the unexpected is something that you have to learn in life.

Joey and I used to go each week to Sam Goody to buy videos. (Yes, VHS!) When a new shuttering employee approached me. "Do--o you need any help". I could hear Joey down the other aisle mimicking her voice. To this day I don't know what attracted me to this girl. She wasn't overly cute, her voice was annoying and she had a lousy hair cut. I made some small talk and left to get on the bus with Joey.

"She has twelve year old boy tits!" Joey tells me when we got outside. His voice had the dread that I was about to pick an ugly girl to date.

The following Saturday she was there again. My heart literally went up my throat. I went up to the counter, and proceeded to check out. "Would you like to reserve any of our upcoming films?"

"No, they are always in stock". We both nervously laughed and I walked out. I wished I had reserved something, what an idiot I felt like. Within ten minutes I had went back to Sam Goody and told her that I would like to reserve something. She thought I was the sweetest guy ever. So I asked for her phone number. Her pen had dried out, as she started to write it. Then the old lady behind me gave us a pen from her purse. I felt great.

Three days later that all fell apart. I called her home phone, and her Mom answered angrily and upset that I had the number. She wasn't even sure where her daughter was. She thought maybe I would know.

The next Saturday Jamie explained to me that her mother kicked her out. I was heartbroken and confused. I didn't know this girl at all but I imagined her as a saving grace in my life. I learned that sometimes in life we wish so hard for the right person that we don't even know the truth. It was a lesson we all have to learn in life.

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Code Red DVD That You are Most Eagerly Anticipating?

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Anthony's Bloody Disgusting Flicks Coming to DVD:

Not everything horror related that comes to DVD is worth seeing, and a majority of them are current direct to video garbage. I only feel the need to mention the cult films worth seeing. Not all of them are horror but remain in the cult spirit. Some haven't even been seen since their theatrical releases.Note Worthy: In October Columbia will release a Director's Cut of Night of the Creeps.Riot on 42nd Street and Scream (1981) have been postponed indefinitely by Media Blasters! Along with Choke Canyon and Trapped has been changed to 8/47/7: Mystery Science Theater 3000: XV (Featuring Zombie Nightmare)TBA: Night of the DribblerTBA: Power Play!7/28: Torso7/28: Combat Shock: 2-Disc Never Before Seen Director's Cut8/11: TheWeekend Murders8/18: The Strangeness8/25: Stunt Rock9/29: 42nd Street Forever Volume 5: The Alamo Drafthouse Edition9/29: Stepfather 2

New and Improved: Mortuary (1983)

MORTUARY: This is one of the best slashers of all time. The film is creepy and affective. David Wallace is the bland lead that looks like something from The Village of the Damned. The performance of a very young Bill Paxton (Aliens) is very energetic. Paxton provides that raw untapped first time performance that reminds one of Steve McQueen in The Blob. He plays the lonely Mozart loving outcast son of a mortician (Christopher George). He puts all of himself into this strange performance and it is no wonder why he made it in the business. Also of note this is Christopher George's final film. He died of a heart attack shortly after. George was a pretty good actor whose career turned to exploitation at the end. He gave some truly terrible performances, but nothing funnier then his death scene in Enter the Ninja. In this film George is a little more subdued, but plays a very mean and one dimensional character. George and Paxton should have had a few more scenes together. The ending with the wedding party of corpses is both frightening and hysterical. This is a slasher movie that tries to be different and it deserves to be seen. It is refreshing to see a film try new concepts in the slasher genre.

About this site:

There was a time when B-Movies flooded Mom and Pop video stores. Movies so strange that the average movie lover often skips. I wanna take you on a journey back to those fun days, when you had no clue what you were renting. From companies like Media Home Entertainment, Paragon, and Vestron.

City Limits: Random Thoughts

City Limits: (1984) has to be one of the worst films ever made. The film is poorly done on every level.

Of note this contains an early appearance of Kim Cattrall

How did a film this inept get two stars: Robby Benson and James Earl Jones in cameos?

Also I hope they release this episode of Mystery Science Theatre 3000 on DVD very soon.

What Movie from "42nd Street Forever Volume 4" are you most likely to check out?

About Me

Check out AcesOverBrooklyn.com

The Monkees: Head: Random Thoughts

One of my most embarrassing moments in High School was when a girl asked to borrow my copy of Head. She shouted, "Give me Head" in the hallway.

This movie spawned my very short lived nickname: Fuzy Wazy.I once brought this to party and it confused the hell out of friends. "I thought we were friends, why are making us sit through this". Brett asked me.

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